Oh the Bliss!

I am acutely aware that our second go with foster care has gone incredibly smooth. We got an infant - everyone's dream. He has been extremely easy, always been a great sleeper and eater, has no residual effects from the 9 months he spent in his birth-mom's womb. He's happy,  healthy (though he's had more colds than I can count), follows directions and if all that weren't enough the boy's been pooping on the potty since he was 4 months old! So yeah, we'd be considered an ideal story, I'd say. But that doesn't mean the road has always been easy, for me especially. There are many times when I tiptoe toward (and completely fall over) the edge of frustration and annoyance , "why does he have to act this way, none of the other kids ever acted like this." , which leads to doubt, " Would I be this annoyed if one of my biological children were doing this?", which leads to guilt, " I can't believe I singled him out because he...

One Christmas decoration didn't make it into the attic this year. It's not even in the garage. I just couldn't bring myself to put it away. I needed it close. I needed to see it everyday, multiple times. I needed to be reminded that just because the season is over the reason is not. Jesus was born. He brought life, everlasting. Satisfaction. He brought light. Truth. He brought joy These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.  John 15:11 and he didn't take it away. May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope . Romans 15:13 When December is over, and the world stops debating whether we can or cannot say "Christmas", or if Jesus really is the reason for the season, and all the lights come down and a pressing darkness threatens at every turn I must remember that Jesus never filled and then depleted. When we live ...

…when you're SEVEN!